Landfill plan may be voted on

Public hearing set for Thursday on proposal to privatize Colonie's dump

By TIM O'BRIEN Staff writer

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, July 26, 2011

COLONIE -- The Town Board appears poised to vote Thursday on a proposed privatization of the its landfill operation.

After four public meetings including one Monday at Colonie Village Hall, the town will hold a hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall before its regular meeting. Most members said they are ready to act on the hotly debated proposal to allow Waste Connections, a California firm, to operate the landfill for the next 25 years.

"We've put enough time into this. We've got enough information," said Deputy Supervisor Nancy Hernandez. "This is not something that was done overnight."

Town Board member Daniel Hornick, who served on the landfill exploratory committee, said every question he had, he has received answers. Unless someone at Thursday's public hearing raises an issue he has not heard yet, Hornick said he's ready to vote.

"As I see it right now, it's a very good deal for the town but I'll listen to what people say Thursday," he said.

Board members William Carl and Linda Murphy said they are uncertain whether the board will act, but they support the plan. "I'm pretty impressed with it," Carl said. "I don't know what we're going to learn by going to more meetings."

The town would receive $23 million for signing the agreement and another $2.3 million a year for the first five years. It would get $1.1 million a year for every year afterward plus $6 per ton for every ton over the current volume of garbage.

The town would also back any "reasonable" request for expanding the landfill and would be paid a bonus between $2 million and $10.8 million depending on the size of the expansion approved by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

Mahan said the deal would enable the town to wipe out its deficit, and the contractor would assume costs for closing the landfill. The town estimates it could take in as much as $100 million over the life of the deal.

More than 20 people commented on the proposal Monday, some calling for the town to take more time.

"This came upon taxpayers right at the last minute," said Suzanne Miller. "Whether this is a good idea or a bad idea, we didn't have enough time to get information on it."